If you're into video games, you know that some years are more special than others. That's why the Playstation 2 generation is also known as the “golden age”. We don't know yet if 2022 will reach that level, but we can say that it's has all the potential it needs. All the major games that were postponed because of the pandemic are about to be released. This includes console-exclusive games. While the gaming storm has calmed down a bit in March, we can look ahead to the months to come. Introducing 9 most anticipated video games of 2022.
We've set ourselves a number of rules so that this list doesn't go to infinity and beyond. For example, we'll not include games released in the first 2.5 months of 2022. It makes sense to mention them all briefly, but first, let's list the best games of 2022 that have been released so far:
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Lost Ark
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Elden Ring
- Gran Turismo 7
If you think about how bad 2021 was in terms of AAA games due to the pandemic, you can better understand the glory of the five games above. Any one of these games could easily win the award for best game of 2021. But instead, they'll find themselves competing in 2022.
We don't have to explain much about Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which was released exclusively for Nintendo Switch. The biggest and most comprehensive game ever made for fans of the series. Dying Light 2 was developed by expanding and improving the unique gameplay of the first game. The sequel to Zero Dawn, one of the best games of the PS4 generation, Horizon Forbidden West is a glorious game. It looks stunning as it uses all the power of Playstation 5. Elden Ring will be the game of the year if the games in the list below are not a big surprise. Compliments to FromSoftware. Gran Turismo 7 is the best version of the series you know.
Best Upcoming Video Games of 2022
Before we get to the games, we want to remind you of one last thing. In order not to make this list too long, we've picked only AAA and some indie games. We'll create another list with complete indie games that aren't included here, but could be among the best of 2022.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
You know Tango Gameworks from The Evil Within series. They're very good at creating games that have their own style. Now they're doing the same thing again, this time with a supernatural story set in the dark streets of Tokyo.
Developed by Shinji Mikami and Ikumi Nakamura, Ghostwire: Tokyo is a horror thriller with a FPS camera angle. This choice of camera is a special one, because the game includes many action mechanics. Get ready for Tokyo's famous streets, ghosts and horror scenes with classic Asian style.
Ghostwire: Tokyo release date: March 25, 2022 (Official)
Platforms: PC and Playstation 5 (One year exclusive)
Developer and Publisher: Tango Gameworks – Bethesda
Forspoken
We can determine the game trend of 2022 as Open World. Because we already know that many games will use this structure. Forspoken is one of those games. It was announced by the developers of Final Fantasy 15 in 2020.
We'll play the story of Frey Holland, who suddenly finds herself in Athia while living in New York. All the information released so far says that the game is story-driven and allows free roaming in the open world. Considering that Forspoken's writing team includes people from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Uncharted, we can already look forward to October 2022.
Forspoken release date: October 2022 (Official)
Platforms: PC and Playstation 5
Developer and Publisher: Luminous Productions ? Square Enix
The Day Before
We don't know how to feel about The Day Before. All the videos of the game released so far look too perfect to be true. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world and is about the classic zombie invasion. But it'll take all the excitement of the online game mode in the process.
What does it mean? The Day Before is an online survival action game that you'll play with other players on the same server. You'll have to fight both AI zombies and real people. We can think of it as the dream state of DayZ. Although there will supposedly be a single-player mode, it makes sense to create a group of friends already now.
The Day Before release date: June 21, 2022 (Official)
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Developer and Publisher: FNTASTIC – Mytona
Starfield
Whatever comes to mind when someone tells you about Bethesda, imagine it all in one big package of excitement. That's all you can say about Starfield, the team's first new IP in 25 years. For the first time since Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, they'll be creating a new universe, which it's set in space.
Full details about Starfield haven't been announced yet. For now, we can expect Bethesda's epic role-playing elements, an original story and great graphics with the power of next-gen Xbox consoles.
Starfield release date: November 11, 2022 (Official)
Platforms: PC and Xbox Series X|S
Developer and Publisher: Bethesda
Arc Raiders
Free-to-play games aren't usually among the most anticipated games of the year. There are many reasons for that, but considering what Arc Raiders promises, we can put this game here for now. It'll be the first game from Embark Studios, the developers who previously worked on Battlefield and Star Wars: Battlefront.
The game won't only be playable online and free to play, but will also have deep gameplay mechanics. With characters that have different abilities and customization options, we'll fight against a machine threat from the depths of space.
Arc Raiders release date: 2022 (Expected)
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Developer and Publisher: Embark Studios
The Callisto Protocol
When you combine the space theme with the horror genre, there's one game series that must immediately come to mind: Dead Space. If you not only think this game, but also love it, you can look forward to The Callisto Protocol. The project is directed by Glen Schofield, the creator of Dead Space.
So far there's not much information other than an announcement trailer. The Callisto Protocol will be set in Black Iron Prison, which is in the second largest moon of Jupiter. The developers have promised that the game will be very creepy. We're looking forward to finding out more.
The Callisto Protocol release date: 2022 (Expected)
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Developer and Publisher: Striking Distance – KRAFTON
God of War Ragnarök
It's still hard to believe what Santa Monica accomplished in 2018. They've managed to recreate Kratos and put him in a more glorious place than in the original games. Accordingly, our expectations for Ragnarok are high. Like everyone else, we wonder how the story of Kratos and Atreus will end in Scandinavian mythology.
If there's no news about a delay, the game will be released this year. Get ready for plenty of action, surprises in Atreus' story, an epic battle with Thor and the end of the world. Because Ragnarok is coming.
God of War Ragnarök release date: 2022 (Official)
Platforms: Playstation 5 and Playstation 4
Developer and Publisher: Santa Monica Studio – Sony
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
We've only one word about Breath of the Wild, which was released exclusively for Nintendo Switch: perfection. Even though it's one of the highest rated games of all time, I don't think we did it enough justice.
Why do we think that? Because the first game was one of the most groundbreaking games of the last decade. Maybe it was even the first. Everything they did with the open world became the model for games in later years – like Elden Ring. Now the sequel is coming and we're already very excited.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 release date: 2022 (Expected)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer and Publisher: Nintendo
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Video games with a medieval theme aren't that suprising anymore. Almost every year we see knights, castles, emperors, swords and more in dozens of games. But A Plague Tale had a very special touch that made it stand out from all those games.
The sequel, to be released in 2022, will tell the continuation of the first game. It's about 14th century France, the infectious diseases that killed millions, the stunning graphics and, of course, the single player campaign mode that we believe will be incredible.
A Plague Tale: Requiem release date: 2022 (Official)
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
Developer and Publisher: Asobo Studio – Focus Entertainment
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That's all about the 9 most anticipated video games of 2022. Some of the games on this list might be delayed to 2023. But for now, it's good to be hopeful. Other potential games that aren't on this list but you should keep in mind are the following:
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
- Bayonetta 3
- Bear and Breakfast
- Dune: Spice Wars
- Gotham Knights
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Lord of the Rings: Gollum
- Marvel's Midnight Suns
- Nightingale
- Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
- Redfall
- Somerville
- Stray
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Stalker 2 is not here, because the game's development is paused until the Ukraine – Russia war ends.